Vines and Branches!

For Thursday, April 23, 2026:

John 15:4 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.”

When Jesus walked on earth, almost everyone was a part of the agricultural industry, albeit on a small scale. If your family had apple trees, you could take some to market and barter for olives or figs. Or grapes and a little meat. Even children would know how to grow things, how to raise a crop. So Jesus uses an example that everyone would understand.

He calls himself the grapevine, and Father God would be the gardener, the one with a lot of wisdom about such things. If a branch no longer produces fruit, it’s worthless, so the gardener cuts it off, and into the fire it goes. Branches producing a bountiful harvest are pruned judiciously, so they can produce even more.

Jesus tells them, “You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.” Ah, I get it! Believers are the fruit of Jesus’ ministry!

But this isn’t the time to coast. Don’t even consider quitting. There’s still plenty of work to do. Stay connected with Jesus and with fellow believers. A branch cannot produce more fruit for the Kingdom if it’s separated from the vine.

Today, there are about 2.6 billion Christians on our Earth. Every one of them is the result of Jesus being the vine that can support many branches. Just before Jesus left us to return to the Father, he commanded, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Our work will be done when everyone has had a chance to learn the Good News!

Jesus says the harvest will be plentiful so we could use a few more workers!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

The Father’s House

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Truth & Freedom Church

Connected!

For Friday, November 14, 2025:

John 15:5-6 NLT, Jesus speaking: “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me, you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned.”

In Jesus’ day, the economy was largely agricultural. Most people would have known the basics of tending sheep, and vineyards were abundant. So this vine/branches analogy helps clarify our relationship with Christ.

If a branch is severed from its host vine, it will wither and die, only to be tossed into the fire. But mankind will thrive when connected to the Creator, the source of life.

Knowing this, how could any of us ever get separated from the host? Neglect seems to be a key factor. Your vineyard needs water and fertilizer. Pruning away the unproductive branches leaves more nutrients for those focused on Jesus’ mission. Maintenance of our heavenly connection should top our list of “things to do today.”

Jesus promises a reward for our persistence. “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted!” He sums it up like this: “When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father.” Let’s put a smile on God’s face today!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Grow the Kingdom!

For Tuesday, April 8, 2025:

John 15:5 NIV, Jesus speaking: “I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”

Jesus continues his urgent last-minute teaching as he prepares to go to the cross. He wants current believers to be locked in, so that they won’t forget about him and drift away. Historically, that has been the Israelite’s trend. God is good to them, everything’s going OK, and then they say, “Thanks, God, but I can take it from here!” And God gets put on the back burner. Jesus expects better than that from his followers.

2K years ago, the economy of Israel was largely agricultural. Therefore Jesus uses an agricultural metaphor to make his point, something everyone at that time would understand. A grapevine is a large stem that grows from the ground. It sprouts smaller branches that actually produce the grapes. That branch must remain connected to the vine to produce fruit. By the way, if it no longer produces fruit, it must be pruned from the vine so as not to waste resources.

God gave Moses commandments on Mt. Sinai and on the journey from Egypt to the Promised Land. Apart from that, Jesus is our only source of heavenly teaching. So he tells us to remain connected to his words which are now immortalized in our Bibles. Tell everyone and teach truth to newcomers. Remain connected to other believers and to the Church. Stay true to the source so you’re not pruned from the vine.

Apart from Jesus, we can accomplish nothing beneficial to the Kingdom. But with Jesus, each of us can accomplish great things!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

Family Business!

For Friday, October 13, 2023:

Romans 11:17 NLT: “Some of these branches from Abraham’s tree—some of the people of Israel—have been broken off. And you Gentiles, who were branches from a wild olive tree, have been grafted in. So now you also receive the blessing God has promised Abraham and his children, sharing in the rich nourishment from the root of God’s special olive tree.”

Branches being grafted onto a host tree gives us a good picture of being included in God’s family. Knowledge of God and his instructions for mankind came to us through the Hebrew people. But the Son, Jesus, came to redeem ALL people, all who would believe, and that includes Gentiles. Believers are called children of God, and have all the rights and privileges of any of God’s children. Believers have been fully adopted into the Holy family!

God cares for his tree, trimming branches when prudent and grafting in new ones as they come to know him. God provides spiritual nourishment, thereby increasing our knowledge of him and growing our love for his Kingdom.

Welcome to the family!!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship